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WWE Money in the BankAired live on WWE Network and pay-per-viewBoston, Massachusetts at T.D. Garden

WWE MITB Kickoff Show

Renee Young, Booker T, Alex Riley, and Christian served as the hosts of the pre-show panel. They encouraged viewers to send in questions for the Daniel Bryan interview. Tom Phillips checked in from the social media lounge serving as the replacement for Young, who was promoted to the host role due to the departure of Josh Mathews... A Daniel Bryan video package aired...

The panel spoke briefly... Backstage, Roman Reigns was interviewed by Byron Saxton about the MITB match. His plan is to attack, attack, attack. Believe that... The MITB By The Numbers video package aired. The video noted that there have been five cash-ins on Raw, yet none at WrestleMania. Ric Flair was the oldest man to enter MITB, and Jack Swagger is the youngest winner...

Renee Young announced that Bad News Barrett is out of the MITB match. The panel made their predictions...

Powell's POV: There was no mention as to whether there will be a replacement for Barrett in the match. I nominate Bo Dallas!

Daniel Bryan was interviewed by Michael Cole in the ring. The crowd went nuts for Bryan and he responded with a Yes! Cole welcomed Bryan back and asked for an update on his health and when he will be back in the ring.

"This is where I've got some bad news," Bryan said. "I don't know when I'm going to be back, unfortunately. The strength hasn't come back in my arm and they are talking about maybe doing another surgery, but I promise you I will be back and I will be better than ever."

Cole asked Bryan about knowing someone will take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship later tonight. Bryan said he would much rather be in the ring defending his championship, but it wouldn't be a Daniel Bryan story without a few setbacks. He said he would return to the ring and win the championship.

Cole read questions from Twitter starting with his pick for the MITB winner. Bryan said he had three picks: John Cena, Randy Orton, and Roman Reigns. Bryan noted that he thinks Reigns is incredible and he was the only one of the three the crowd cheered for.

Bryan was asked about being stripped of the championship. He said he found out when everyone else did. He said it bothered him that Stephanie McMahon was so smug when she said it. "Someday someone is going to come out here and wipe that smile off her face," Bryan said.

Bo Dallas's music played and he walked to the ring and past the set, which had MITB trucks and ladders set up on it. Dallas said he was listening backstage and understands Bryan can't compete. "Gosh, that's gotta be such a pain in the neck," Dallas said. He told Bryan that life is about the journey. He said Bryan may not be able to climb the ladder, but he can climb the ladder of life and make his way back to the top. "All you have to do is Bolieve!" Dallas said.

Bryan told Dallas that he appreciates his concern, but he's acting like a Bo-ner. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say Bo-Leave." Bryan led the crowd in Yes! chants as his music played to close the segment...

Powell's POV: A good segment with Bryan putting a happy face on the news that he may need an additional surgery, and good rub for Bo Dallas being in the ring with the most popular wrestler in the world.

The panel made their predictions for the MITB championship match. Riley took Bray Wyatt, Christian took Randy Orton, and Booker T took Orton as well and then let out an obnoxious laugh...

The Wyatt Family sounder interrupted Young as she was trying to close the show. Luke Harper said the time is up for the Uso Brothers. "We're coming," he said. Erick Rowan, wearing the sheep match, delivered the "run" line to close out the pre-show...

WWE Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View

The Uso Brothers mad their entrance for the tag title match. Michael Cole, JBL, and Jerry Lawler checked in on commentary. The Spanish announce team also checked in for a moment. All six broadcast team members had Mountain Dew bottles in front of them. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan entered to new music that started with the solo version from the kid's choir singing "The Whole World In His Hands" and then switched to rock music...

1. The Uso Brothers vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Cole narrated highlights of the teams' recent storyline developments. The Uso Brothers had the first run of prolonged offense. Jey hit a nice running forearm off the ringside barricade onto Rowan. However, Harper distracted Jey a short time later and Rowan pushed Jey off the top rope and into the barricade.

Jimmy took a hot tag from Jey at 7:30 and had a run where he worked over both Wyatt Family members. Jimmy hit a pair of superkicks on Harper for a two count at 8:50. There was a good near fall where Jimmy rolled up Harper for a two count at 9:55. Harper came right back with a big powerbomb on Jimmy for an even better near fall at 10:05. The crowd chanted "This Is Awesome."

The Uso Brothers did suicide dives. Rowan caught Jimmy, and then held him for Harper to hit his own suicide dive on him. Harper and Rowan had Jimmy pinned inside the ring, but Jey broke it up. Rowan went up top at 12:10, but Jimmy cut him down. The Uso Brothers performed a double superplex on Rowan at 13:00. They performed back to back top rope splashes on Rowan and pinned him...

The Uso Brothers beat Luke Harper and Erick Rowan in 13:45 to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Powell's POV: A fantastic opener and tag title match. All four men worked extremely hard and it was a good mix of brawling and high spots with some believable near falls. JBL put it over repeatedly as the biggest title defense the Uso Brothers have had to date.

The broadcast team spoke at ringside and set up a video package... Dean Ambrose apparently cut a promo before the match, but there was a WWE Network glitch that required a restart at my house...

2. Paige vs. Naomi (w/Cameron) for the WWE Divas Championship. Not much crowd reaction beforehand. Paige and Naomi fought to ringside right off the bat. The referee pulled them apart and got them back inside the ring, where Paige connected with a dropkick. Naomi came back and connected with a big dive over the top rope and onto Paige on the floor, which drew gasps from the live crowd.

Cameron acted like she was more concerned with her nails than the match at one point. She also laughed when Paige put Naomi in a submission hold. Naomi escaped the hold and then came back with some huracanranas, a forearm shot, and the Rearview for a two count. Naomi performed a split-legged moonsault, but Paige got her knees up. Paige came back with a great DDT and scored the clean pin...

Paige defeated Naomi in 7:15.

Powell's POV: They packed a lot into that seven-minute match. Really good work. The live crowd didn't seem to care going in, but they reacted to the big spots even if they didn't seem to have a strong favorite in terms of who won or lost. Cameron played her part well by acting dismissive early and then happy when her partner was suffering. She acted like she was comforting Naomi afterward. I thought we would see the turn tonight, but I am happy that they decided to tell more of a story rather than rush into it. I still worry that Cameron will struggle as a singles heel simply because her in-ring work has left so much to be desired.

The broadcast team spoke at ringside about the WWE Network and what you get for the subscription price... The pre-show panel spoke... The same MITB numbers video package that aired during the pre-show aired again...

Damien Sandow came out dressed as Paul Revere and delivered a promo. He said that if he would known Boston was going to turn out the way it did, he never would have warned them about anything. Adam Rose and the Rosebuds came out for an impromptu match...

3. Adam Rose vs. Damien Sandow. Rose did a head-scissors/Stinkface type of move early on. There was a rest hold. Sandow hit his finisher for a near fall. Rose came back with the Party Foul for the win...

Adam Rose beat Damien Sandow in 4:15.

Powell's POV: I picked this time to reinstall the WWE Network app because I was having technical issues. Based on Jake Barnett's description (he watched on his phone) I think I picked the right time.

Jon Stewart was shown at ringside... The broadcast team spoke at ringside and once again stated that Bad News Barrett would not be able to compete due to a severe shoulder injury... A video aired with the MITB contract wrestlers delivering promos in front of a black screen. RVD appeared to have a cough drop in his mouth during his promo. Zeb Colter did the talking and worked Boston into his promo for Swagger...

4. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter) vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Money in the Bank match for the contract for a future title shot. Ambrose was the last man introduced. He came out looking like Cliff Compton again and went right after Ambrose, which got a big pop from the crowd.

Kingston lived up to expectations for innovation by walking up a ladder that Swagger was holding, and then having a ladder he was standing on pushed over by Ambrose, yet landing on the top rope and diving onto a heap of wrestlers at ringside. RVD made a play for the belt at 7:35, but Kingston pushed him down. Swagger pulled Kingston down, then RVD and Kingston ran a ladder into Swagger. Kingston and RVD squared off and ended up fighting on the ropes. Swagger struck Kingston from behind with a ladder.

Swagger set up the tall ladder at 9:05 and climbed near the top, then pulled RVD off the ropes and went for a superplex. RVD fought out of it and Swagger took a back bump into the middle of the ring. RVD played to the crowd and it backfired when Rollins returned to the match by attacking him from behind. RVD set up for the superplex, but Swagger recovered and went underneath him and ended up powerbombing RVD into the ring at 10:30. Ouch.

Ambrose returned and superplexed Rollins from high up on the ladder. There were several replays of the move, including one from above the ring. At 14:15, Ambrose ended up alone on the ladder and the crowd came to life. He had to take a second to let Swagger pull him down. Rollins climbed the other side of the ladder. Ambrose used his shoulder to knock the ladder over while selling his other shoulder.

A referee and a trainer checked on Ambrose. He argued with the trainer and told him to pop it right now. Several referees and additional trainers made Ambrose go backstage at 16:00. Rollins climbed the ladder and made a play for the briefcase, but RVD cut him off. Kingston grabbed a smaller ladder at ringside and set it up over the top rope and on the ladder, then joined Rollins and RVD in brawling on the ladder.

RVD got his leg caught in the ladder and came down awkwardly while holding his hamstring. Rollins and Kingston fought on top of the ladder. Kingston backdropped Rollins onto the second ladder in a "holy shit" moment. Rollins and the ladder bounced via the top rope, and Rollins head landed on the bottom rung of the ladder.

Kingston was alone with the briefcase and the crowd roared, but Ziggler returned out of nowhere to pull him down. Ziggler and Kingston fought. Ziggler dodged a kick from Kingston and then pulled him by the back of the head and onto ladders that were lying in the ring. Ziggler climbed the ladder, but Swagger grabbed his leg and put him in the Patriot Lock while he was still on the ladder at 19:50. Ziggler pulled himself up with his arms and then kicked Swagger to knock himself free from the hold.

Ziggler looked up at the briefcase and got some cheers. Ziggler sold the ankle injury while climbing slowly. Rollins returned and slammed a chair over the ankle of Ziggler, which knocked him off the ladder. Rollins slammed the chair over Ziggler's back again. Rollins climbed the ladder. The crowd chanted for Ambrose and they got their wish when he ran out at 21:25 and slammed Rollins with repeated chair shots to big pops.

Ambrose said something that was censored. He sold his shoulder injury as he climbed the ladder. A referee pulled Zeb Colter away from the ring posts and then Kane's pyro hit. Kane ran out to prevent Ambrose from grabbing the briefcase. Ambrose fought him off briefly, but Kane pulled him down and chokeslammed him, drawing boos from the crowd. Kane performed a Tombstone piledriver on Ambrose. Rollins climbed the ladder while Kane watched and took down the briefcase to win the match. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon came out and celebrated with Rollins on the stage...

Seth Rollins won the Money in the Bank contract match in 23:35.

Powell's POV: Ugh on the Kane finish, but a hot match otherwise. Sure, there were the usual awkward moments where guys had to wait on top of the ladder for someone to stop them from taking the briefcase down, and there were unexplained prolonged absences from various guys. Putting that aside, there were some really wild spots and some well received briefcase teases involving various wrestlers. Here's hoping Ambrose will prevent Kane from winning the MITB title match later tonight rather than Rollins returning the favor by helping Kane win the title.

Backstage, Byron Saxton asked Randy Orton what his chances of winning the MITB Championship match are. Orton said they are better than anyone else's and said he would leave it at that. He said he would leave WWE World Heavyweight Champion whether anyone likes it or not. Saxton asked Orton about Reigns. Orton glared at him. Saxton thanked him for his time...

An ad aired for the Vickie Guerrero special that will air on WWE Network on Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. CT... The broadcast team spoke about the greatness of WWE Network at ringside...

5. Goldust and Stardust vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel. Axel wore new gear with an ax on the back that looked like it belonged on the front. Rybaxel still have matching red hats. There was a rough spot early where Cody did a half-hearted whip of Axel into the ropes, then both Dusts laid down and he had to hop over both of them. Fortunately, Stardust played his part well and the crowd was responsive for a couple minutes.

Things slowed down once Stardust tagged out. He stomped his foot on the ring apron in an attempt to get the crowd going. Later, Stardust dumped Axel to ringside when Goldust held the top rope down. "What the hell was that?" JBL asked. Stardust hit CrossRhodes on Ryback and had him pinned, but Axel broke it up. In the end, Stardust rolled up Axel and pinned him. Axel threw a fit afterward, but Goldust and Stardust teamed up for a DDT move...

Goldust and Stardust beat Cody Rhodes and Goldust in 7:40.

Powell's POV: I'm still not sold on Stardust even though he was the highlight of this match. Axel needs to ditch the new gear as it makes him look smaller and indy-riffic. It's similar to the gear his father wore and I like that, but the colors definitely don't work for him. If the goal was to bring the crowd down from the previous match then mission accomplished.

The broadcast team recapped the love triangle storyline and then the milk, cat litter, etc. videos were shown... Backstage, Saxton interviewed Fandango, who whore a bedazzled referee shirt. "Fandango loves a triangle," Fandango said. Saxton asked how he could call the match down the middle. Layla showed up and flirted with him, then Summer showed up and did the same...

Powell's POV: A huge step backwards for the women's movement. Fortunately, they were nice enough to go to a different match rather than subject the world to that segment followed immediately by their match.

6. Rusev (w/Lana) vs. Big E. Lana cut a promo before the match. E was still doing the preacher bit as he spoke about standing up for forefathers and America during a pop-box promo that aired as he walked to the ring to very little reaction. E performed a nice overhead belly-to-belly suplex, then E performed the spear through the ropes spot that stood out last month.

E rolled Rusev back inside the ring and covered him for a two count. Rusev came up wiping blood from his lip. Rusev took the straps of his singlet down. Rusev rolled outside the ropes. E tried to grab him, but Rusev pushed him back and caught him with a kick, then followed up with a running kick. Rusev yelled, then Lana told him to crush. Rusev applied The Accolade. E teased forcing his way out, but Rusev locked it in and got the win...

Rusev defeated Big E in 7:30.

Powell's POV: E didn't seem to be over with the crowd when he made his entrance and that silly preacher routine isn't going to help. However, he does a nice job of getting the crowd behind him once the bell rings. I like the way E fought through the pain a bit only to have Rusev sit down on his back even more to lock in the move for the win.

A "Don't Try This At Home" video aired... The panel spoke again. No one is drinking their Mountain Dew... Backstage, Nikki Bella was talking with Brie Bella. Stephanie McMahon showed up and asked "what she is doing here." She pretended she couldn't hear Brie and scolded Nikki. Brie said she had a favorite video and showed Stephanie the footage of Vickie Guerrero shoving Stephanie into the pool of pudding. Stephanie called for security to escort Brie out of the building... A commercial aired...

7. Summer Rae vs. Layla with Fandango as special referee. Layla threw Summer to the floor and then danced for Fadango. Summer pulled her down from behind and then stuck her foot on her throat in the corner. Fandango started to count, but then he stopped as if he was mesmerized from by her leg. A C.M. Punk chant broke out briefly. In the end, Layla caught Summer with a kick and pinned her. Fandango kissed her afterward. Summer acted like she was crying...

Powell's POV: Awful. The fans have no reason to like any of the three. I actually feel bad for all three of them because they were thrown out there with such awful storyline support.

A movie commercial aired... A video package set up the main event and recapped Daniel Bryan being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship...

8. John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Cesaro (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton in an MITB match for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Justin Roberts introduced Triple H and Stephanie McMahon prior to the main event and they walked to ringside. Wyatt's custom to the city video introduction aired prior to his entrance. Cena got a better reaction than usual (hometown). Stephanie appeared to be the only person clapping for Orton. Reigns entered through the crowd. Kane was out last.

Either Cena's barber had a bad day or he's developing a large bald spot. It happens to the best of us. Anyway, some of the heels established the every man for himself bit early, as Cesaro and Del Rio fought over a ladder, then ran it into Orton. Wyatt then splashed the ladder and the heels. Kane was the exception, as he set up the ladder and encouraged Orton to grab the title belt, but Reigns broke it up at 6:00.

Cena got the better of Wyatt and signaled for the Five Knuckle Shuffle to a mixed reaction, but Cesaro blasted him with an uppercut. Cesaro and Sheamus made a play for the title belts. Wyatt crab-walked underneath them for no apparent reason. Cesaro and Sheamus hung from the title belts. Sheamus fell first, and eventually Cesaro did as well, both without title belts.

Footage aired of the ladder hitting Orton's head when Reigns knocked him off earlier in the match. Back live, Orton was cut above the eyebrow and/or on top of his head, but he fought at ringside with Sheamus next to the broadcast table. Sheamus slammed the head of Orton onto a ladder that was resting on the ring apron and on the edge of the broadcast table (Orton actually slammed his head into his forearm rather than the ladder).

At 14:30, Sheamus performed a Brogue Kick on Cena and then said, "You can't see me, fella." Sheamus set up the big ladder in the middle of the ring, but got caught up brawling with Kane. Cesaro set up a second ladder by placing it between the standing ladder rungs and the middle rope, then went to the top and fought with Sheamus. Reigns let out a primal scream and then tipped over the ladder, which tilted into a leaning position because of the second ladder. Both men remained fighting on top of the ladder, and then Cena pushed it back into the standing position only to be taken out by Wyatt.

Kane ran Wyatt into the ladder. Kane pulled Cesaro down, leaving Sheamus with both belts. Kane and Orton scrambled to pull Sheamus down. Kane took the second ladder out and put it at ringside, leaving the one standing ladder in the ring. As Kane positioned the ladder, Reigns speared him, then Orton shoved the ladder onto the back of Reigns. A short time later, Reigns caught Orton with a Superman punch. He ran toward Sheamus, who kicked him, but Reigns came back with another Superman punch.

Reigns performed a Superman punch on Del Rio, roughed up Wyatt at ringside, hit another punch on Del Rio, and then speared Cesaro on the floor. Reigns entered the ring and Cena followed to a lot of boos. Reigns turned and saw Cena and they had a staredown. Cena looked up at the title belts, then they traded punches. There wasn't the big reaction for the staredown, but the crowd fired up as they traded offense, and cheered when Reigns speared Cena at 21:15.

Reigns set up and climbed a ladder, but Orton pulled him down and performed the sidewinder backbreaker off the ladder. Triple H and Stephanie were shown applauding from ringside. Wyatt recovered and pulled Orton off the ladder, then dropped him with Sister Abigail. Wyatt got the biggest pop of the match. He climbed the ladder and Del Rio stopped him with punches, which drew boos from the crowd. Del Rio hit his running kick in the corner, then followed up with the superkick on the kneeling Wyatt.

Del Rio climbed the ladder and grabbed both title belts, but Sheamus entered the ring and pushed the ladder over. Del Rio fell into the ropes, then ate a Brogue Kick. Sheamus set up the ladder and climbed, but Cesaro returned to the ring and pulled him off the ladder and into an uppercut. Cesaro hit the Neutralizer. Cesaro climbed the ladder, but Orton pulled him off and into the RKO, which drew a pop for the spectacle of it.

Orton climbed the ladder at 24:45, but Reigns returned to the ring and fought with Orton on the ladder. Orton, who was bleeding heavily from the cut on the head, took a few headbutts from Reigns. Kane returned to the ring and chokeslammed Reigns off the ladder. Kane held the ladder in place while Orton looked down at Hunter and Stephanie and smiled.

John Cena returned to the ring and hit the Attitude Adjustment on Kane, and then performed the same move on Orton and dropped him onto Kane. Cena climbed the ladder and took down both title belts to win the match. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon did not look happy with the Cena win. The announcers hyped that Cena was now a 15-time champion...

John Cena won a WWE Money in the Bank ladder match to win the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 27:00.

Powell's POV: A good match with nonstop action. They did a better job of not having guys disappear for ridiculous lengths of time in this match than they did in the earlier match, but I actually enjoyed the first of the two MITB matches more even though the stakes were lower. There wasn't even a hint of a cash-in at the end of the show from Rollins. I'm sure there will be plenty of grumbling over Cena winning, but it sure looks like he could be a transitional champion if the plan is to put the title on Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam or later this year.

Overall, I was not a fan of the match order. It was a tough show to lay out in that regard because there were only three strong matches on paper. Still, it felt like they saved too much of the Raw-like filler content for the second half of the show. Still, it's hard to complain about the entertainment aspect on a night when so many wrestlers worked their asses off and put their bodies on the line in the MITB matches and even in the tag title match, though I'm sure plenty of people will simply because of the result of the main event and what will be dubbed predictable MITB match outcomes.

I will have more to say about the show in the member exclusive audio review later tonight, and in the MITB Hit List on Monday. Join Jake Barnett and I for Prowrestling.net Live on Monday night at 10:30 p.m. CT at Blogtalkradio.com/prowrestlingdotnet.

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